Barracks

After World War II, when many returning veterans headed to college on the GI bill, St. John's didn't have enough dormitory space to accommodate them all. Up until that time, most students lived in Benet Hall.

According to The Record, the Federal Public Housing Association allotted five army barracks to SJU, which were sent to Collegeville from Camp Grant, Illinois in 1946. Each of the five 100x20 foot barracks housed 80 students. The barracks were placed in what was at the time a practice field for Prep athletics, north of the outdoor handball courts. Later the handball courts were demolished to make room for Mary Hall.

With Mary Hall under construction to house students by fall 1951, the barracks were moved and put to other uses. Some were sold (in sections) and removed from campus altogether, to places like Avon and Big Fish Lake. Others still stand on campus, and were used to form parts of buildings used by the Liturgical Press and Custodial Services. Having undergone significant renovations over the years, their initial use as barracks has been almost totally obscured over time.